Africa

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which African countries he (a) has appointed and (b) intends to appoint prosperity officers.

Mark Simmonds: In response to the opportunities presented by economic growth across sub-Saharan Africa we have over the last 18 months increased substantially the number of prosperity officers in the region. Additionally we have established Regional Prosperity networks in South, West and East Africa to support the local business environment and UK companies in winning business. We have prosperity officers in 23 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. These are: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. There are no current plans to appoint additional prosperity officers.

Gun Sports

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support the Government has provided for shooting sports in the last five years.

Helen Grant: Since 2009 Sport England has invested over £1 million in British Shooting to encourage more people to take part in the sport more often. It has also invested £588,233 in community shooting projects and facilities. This includes seven clubs who have benefited from Sport England's Inspired Facilities Fund.
	UK Sport invests in four-year cycles in line with the Olympic/Paralympic calendars; investing just over £4.5 million during the London 2012 cycle (2009-13), and just over £6.5 million into Paralympic Disability Shooting for the Rio 2016 cycle (2013-17).